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My blog has been changed to make it more appealing for those who have New England ancestors and want to see the area through photos. Things I’ll include are typical white New England churches, libraries showing their genealogical collection, historical societies, cemeteries, war memorials, in general, anything to do with history.

For four years I’ve blogged mostly about my personal genealogy in New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire), New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. I still will, can’t forget my own roots.

Please check out the labels on the right side for articles. The header tabs at the top are a work in progress.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Each Example is Different, and None Were Done on Computers

For many of us, we received a baby book with the new family tree filled out by a parent. This one of mine was filled out in full with all names, but unfortunately there are two small errors, and no dates nor locations. I received this book when I got married, I didn't think about these people until I began working at the DAR in Washington and decided to join as a member. Using this was my first source, until I discovered that my mother and great-grandmother had been members of the DAR.I will show five examples of genealogy charts, all are quite different, and you might have the same luck if you just spread the news to your family members that you are big into genealogy, and ask if they have charts. Also, it would be a smart move to inquire at libraries where your family or ancestor lived as well as call, write or go online to see what the area Colleges, Historical Societies or any Repository has. Another suggestion is to ask other genealogists, especially if you belong to groups on facebook.Since my old baby tree, I've been given several very detailed charts (typed and hand written) by family members and a stranger. In addition, I located a typed manuscript of over 200 pages. It appears that several of my ancestors were into genealogy. When I received these, I pretty much copied the data into my software. None of the charts had sources, but the manuscript did. The information came from an architect, a doctor, an archivist, a now Certified Genealogist and a lawyer, so I was very lucky...but remember they didn't source. I had lots of work to do because of that.As you'll see, each example is different, and none were done on computers. I'll show them in the order that I received and include a brief description.1. Several months after working at the DAR, a staff genealogist who was helping me with my line, surprised me with a nine-generation lineage chart, and more information as a gift. I wrote about this in a blog, seen HERE. I was in shock. You probably can't see it, but I didn't even know my grandfather's marriage or death date.

9 generation chart

2. Two years later, I received a rolled up sheet, measuring 30" x 43" from my uncle, containing our genealogy. It was based on my grandfather's information done in 1957. This was a total surprise. There was a notation that he (uncle) updated a few things (new births, deaths and marriages). What I liked were the 13 stars indicating military service. However, as shown below, it was very hard to follow the lines, and there were some errors.

Full chart spread across the bed.

3. Ten years after I began my research, I went to Canada to get copies of the records my archivist cousin donated to a Historical Society. Below are a few examples. The first is a partial descendant report beginning with my fifth great-grandfather. The second report is the first page of six showing the family tree.

4. A year later, I received a huge package of information from a distant cousin, I believe he was ending his research, but I don't believe he actually did this work. Below are three very large sheets, (the top, middle and bottom, when put together would make an enormous page), showing the descendants of Hendrick Schrambling. A descendant, Henry Scrambling was my Revolutionary War Patriot, and I was obsessed with this line, even before I received this gift. The family arrived in New York ca. 1710 and I had an easy time tracing the lines until the later years when the family changed their spelling to Scramlin and other variations, so these sheets helped immensely.

5. The pages below are from a manuscript my great-great grandfather wrote. It is located at the New England Historic Genealogical Society's library. By the time I discovered this, most my Poole line had been completed by me, because many resources and sources are plentiful in Massachusetts. I still have not read all the pages and I know there are things I'll need to add, after I check for sources. My post about my discovery is shown HERE and the first 25 pages shown HERE. I purposely left the pages below because of the "tabular" chart, parts of a will and transcript from a cemetery stone, so they can be read.

manuscript is over 200 pages, and includes transcribed wills and cemetery tombstones.

I love this! It's this kind of treasure-trove of handwritten and typewritten information, carefully preserved by family members, that got me intrigued in genealogy in the first place. I've taken such items that have been handed down to me and stored them as carefully as I can for future generations to enjoy.

Marian and Wendy, I think you are on the same wave length, because you both responded to my post, The Minister's Wife Suggestion. I never realized I had to many trees (many more are much smaller, like 1-5 pages), and the idea just popped into my head to share them with you. I wish the photos were clearer, but I am very happy my mother had lovely penmanship! Wendy, you should share your information in a post. Thank you both for commenting once again.

I will check my Ancestral Town in Alabama. I haven't seen these for any of my Aunts or Uncles yet. These are wonderful. I love that you were able to follow through on these lines to check. It's sad this may be a lost genealogy form. That is why I like to keep a lot of things that are paper and not digital. I want them to have a piece of the past. Great Post and gave me some ideas on where to look just to get an example for my family until I can find one that pertains to us.

As always, love your posts. It reminds me of how I started...In about 1972 my Nana - Aileen (Groat) Bradley - one day pulled a old, paper "binder" out. In it were the most beautifully, handpainted, water colored, squares... A Descendant tree. Each generation a different color. The pages were yellowed with time, but the colors still vivid in red, blue and gold. Within the squares the names and dates were carefully handwritten in ink. I was able to learn there how her mother's line (Maggie Freeman) had first arrived and settled in Truro, NS, various parts arriving from Antrim , Ireland, England and Scotland. Margarite/Maggie Freeman would end up marrying Stafford Groat - from the Groats of Pigeon Hill, PQ, (which is how how got to know you all btw).

I tried the most rudimentary research then, literally as a kid, at our local library. And I got pretty far, starting to fill in my Timleck side. I wrote it all out in pencil crayon, sheets of Bristol board taped to one another, wide... Across... And then I put it away, like so many "kids things". But I kept that chart. Mysteriously the other binder seemed to have disappeared, but I had the other still.

It traveled with me from place to place. Then, in early 2002 I realized I was the only one who had replicated the now lost binder. I was the only one with all that "stuff" so I got to work! Fifteen years later, so much has changed in research, records availability and the vast array of co-conspirators I've had the pleasure of meeting along the way. And the work is now uploaded, immortalized I suppose, and shared across many of those others.

I can't help but wonder if the person who so carefully painted those squares had a clue of the ripples they would have in our futures. It's quite something. And, as Barbara pointed out these usually come with surprises... Mine was, and still is, the "gold box" at the top in one place that said "Hugenots" and another, in a pinky red tone of an ancestor from Wales "Was a Welsh Fusilier" - mysteries that I can still see as those delicately made boxes on paper that propel my imagination to comb still more archives to find out what they mean....

Wendy, I'm glad you liked my subject. I have no idea where I got the idea to write about these, but it came in a flash. Go ahead a share yours, I know it will be fun for readers to check out your names.

True, I never thought about them as being "lost genealogy forms"...I wish I had thought of that as my title! Good luck in finding some charts, and knowing you, you'll do a post.

Andy, First, my Kilburns /Kilborns were all from CT. Oh my goodness what a great story about how you got started in genealogy. Anyway, I loved how you described the first descendant tree you ever saw. I don't know if you have young nieces or nephews, but I bet they would like to get a few colored descendant charts as a gift...to start them on their way, would make for a nice family tradition. Oh, I loved what you wrote. Thanks. (And, I'm glad this post took you away from Politics and Baltimore's problems, lol for a bit.)

Barbara you are soooooo very fortunate to have become the "keeper of the family stuff." I dream of a long lost cousin reaching out to me wanting to gift me with boxes and boxes of documented research. Sigh. I really enjoyed reading this post!

Sheri,Yes, I was very lucky, but there were problems in getting so many names in a relatively short period of time. I didn't do sources (until later), and never felt a connection to many of these people. I couldn't remember relationships because I didn't do the initial groundwork, and I was in such a hurry to get all the names in my RM. Unlike you, I have nobody to leave my stuff to! I really am glad you enjoyed this. Thanks, Sheri.

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I've been a retired, quiet, genealogy fanatic for 27 years. It's a hobby I do for fun and to help others.
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